lemongrass

botanical

Best in the evening

What is it

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is an aromatic tropical grass widely used as a culinary herb and traditional remedy. Supplements use the dried stalk, leaf, essential oil, or extract.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Mild digestive comfort and relaxation

Limited Evidence

Traditional use and small studies suggest mild calming and digestive effects from lemongrass tea, but rigorous trials are limited.

Antimicrobial activity (topical)

Limited Evidence

Citral and lemongrass oil show in vitro and limited topical antimicrobial activity. Clinical evidence is preliminary.

How it works

Lemongrass essential oil is rich in citral (a mix of geranial and neral), with smaller amounts of myrcene and other terpenes. Citral and other constituents show antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in laboratory studies, and traditional use includes mild digestive, sedative, and anti-inflammatory applications. Human clinical evidence is mostly small studies and culinary tradition.

Dosage

Culinary use is variable. Tea infusions use a stalk or 1-2 teaspoons of dried leaf per cup. Essential oil is used topically (diluted) or by inhalation; not typically taken internally except in carefully measured aromatherapy/food contexts.

When and how to take it

Tea is often enjoyed in the evening for relaxation. No strict timing requirement.

2 commercial forms

Dried leaf / stalk tea

Water-soluble flavonoids and small amounts of essential oil extract in hot water.

Most common consumer form.

Essential oil

High citral content; topical or aromatic use.

Concentrated; use carefully.

Safety

Generally well tolerated as a culinary herb and tea. Essential oil should be used cautiously; concentrated forms can cause skin irritation and should not be ingested in large amounts.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy: culinary use is fine; concentrated extracts and essential oil should be avoided due to limited safety data. Children: avoid undiluted essential oil.

Interactions

No major drug interactions documented. Possible additive sedative effects with CNS depressants at high doses.

Food sources

Food	Amount	%DV
Fresh or dried lemongrass stalk	1-2 stalks per dish	—

Frequently asked questions

Is lemongrass safe during pregnancy?⌄

Culinary amounts are generally fine. Concentrated extracts and essential oils have limited safety data in pregnancy and are best avoided.

Does lemongrass help anxiety?⌄

Some small studies of lemongrass tea and aromatherapy report modest relaxing effects, but the evidence is preliminary.

References

lemongrass on Wikidata — Wikidata link
lemongrass on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
Research on lemongrass (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track lemongrass with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.